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Thursday, 21 November 2013

Great wonders about Baganda (the largest ethnic group in Uganda) - Cultura Safaris in Uganda

The Baganda people carrying the Kabaka

Buganda is the largest ethnic group found in the south-central region of Uganda occupying about 16.9% of the total population.The kingdom is in the heart of Africa,astride the equator and source of the Nile.A person from Buganda group is known as a Muganda and if referring to plural,Baganda and the language is called Luganda

Mostly known for their loyalty to the King,the Baganda people were the first organised ethnic group in Uganda with a "Kabaka" as their leader.The king is extremely respected by his people and this is evidenced by the bowing down of the men before him.

History about Buganda
The most believed history about Buganda origin is that originally,there was a man known as Kintu who came from the Eastern direction of Mount Elgon,and he is believed to be the first man according to Ganda mythology.Kintu got married to Nambi (the daughter of the creator deity Ggulu).
Some people believe that Ganda people came from east or north and are part of Luo people from Sudan.

Kintu moved from the east of Mount Elgon and moved through Busoga , reached Kibiro and later reached Kyadondo currently known as Wakiso district and formed Buganda there.

Another history says that Buganda was found by a different Kato Kintu,a fleeing prince for the then collapsing Bunyoro-Kitara empire.He is said to have founded Buganda and became its first king.After becoming the king,he expanded the Kingdom to different areas of Uganda.
By the 18th century,Buganda had grown and it had dominated Bunyoro kingdom which was later eclipsed by Bugada. This explains why currently,the Ganda kingdom is the largest in Uganda.

Culture and social structure of Buganda
Buganda is the most centralized & organised tribe in Uganda due to the people's loyalty to the kabaka.
The kingdom is divided into clans ( a group of related lineages to the ancestor) and each has a leader.Clan leaders can summon a council meeting of lineage heads in case of any issue to be discussed.In Buganda,lineage is passed down along patrilineal lines.
Members from the same clan refer to themselves as brothers and sisters regardless of how far removed from one another in terms of blood ties.
When introducing a Muganda man,you must talk about his names,both his father and paternal grandfather,and this is accompanied by a description of his clan.Some of the clans in Buganda include;Abalangira,Babiito-Kooti,Babiito-Kiziba,Babiito-Kibulala,Butiko,Ffumbe,Kasimba,Kayozi,Kibe,Kayozi,Kiwere,KinyomoLugave,Mbwa,Mpeewo,Ndiga,Ngeye,Njaza,Njobe and many more.
No one is supposed to eat the totem he/she belongs to.

The clan spirit among the Baganda is evidenced in the naming of children in that a Kiganda name only belongs to one clan and its not used by any other tribe.

Buganda is also well known for its Kiganda dance that is soo interesting.This is done on beats from drums.Its played on different cultural ceremonies in Buganda.

The Kiganda dance

Young boys and girls from the kingdom are taught this dance by their elders.

Marriage
When it comes to marriage in Buganda,one is not supposed to marry into one's clan or that of one's mother.This is to prevent incest in the kingdom.Another thing is that once people are married,no one is allowed to eat a totem of the other.

Kingship
After Buganda's agreement to follow Kintu's style of governance,the kingdom had to follow the hierarchical system of getting a king and this is still in practice.The clan leaders are expected to help the king in the governing of the kingdom. The clan leaders are also entrusted with powers to settle disputes among their people and frequently report to the king.

The kingdom has numerous tourist attraction and a visit to Buganda is one of those adventurous journeys that can never be forgotten.